BILL NUMBER: SB 2100	CHAPTERED  09/26/00

	CHAPTER   660
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 24, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 28, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 25, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JULY 6, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 22, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 26, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Vasconcellos

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2000

   An act to add Article 23 (commencing with Section 2500) to Chapter
5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to
healing arts.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 2100, Vasconcellos.  Healing arts:  nonconventional treatment.
   (1) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of
physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California and for
the licensure and regulation by the Osteopathic Medical Board of
California of physicians and surgeons who hold certificates subject
to its jurisdiction.
   This bill would require these boards, on or before July 1, 2002,
to establish disciplinary policies and procedures to reflect emerging
and innovative medical practices for licensed physicians and
surgeons.  This bill would request the University of California to
review the state of knowledge and emerging research regarding
alternative and complementary cancer treatments and therapies for the
purpose of assisting the Governor and Legislature, as specified.
   This bill would make various legislative findings and declarations
in this regard.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) California is experiencing and witnessing the emergence
amongst thousands if not millions of its people a fascination with
and commitment to the philosophies and methodologies of alternative
ways of health and healing, commonly known as holistic health,
integrative medicine, humanistic medicine, or complementary health.
   (b) California is also witnessing the emergence of more and more
providers who are committed to these alternative modalities of health
and healing, while there has been far too little effort expended to
understand and appreciate both the alleged benefits and the alleged
damages attendant to those practices.
   (c) In order to assure the people of California the dual goals of
the most beneficial balance of access to these new modalities and the
protection of their health and well-being, a wide-open study should
be undertaken of these emerging modalities in order to seek to
ascertain whether and how the state should best reconceptualize and
redesign its structures of governance of health care provider
practice in order to guarantee these dual goals.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature hereby intends to commission a
comprehensive review by the Medical Board of California and the
Osteopathic Medical Board of California into the emergence of the
phenomenon of holistic health, together with an assessment of whether
and how the boards should redesign their systems of operation so as
to meet the goals expressed in subdivision (c) of Section 1.
  SEC. 3.  Article 23 (commencing with Section 2500) is added to
Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to
read:

      Article 23.  Alternative Practices and Treatments

   2500.  The boards acknowledge the significant interest of
physicians and patients alike in integrating preventative approaches
and holistic-based alternatives into the practice of medicine,
including, but not limited to, biopsychosocial techniques, nutrition,
and the use of natural supplements to enhance health and wellness.
The boards shall establish specific policies in this regard and shall
review statutes and recommend modifications of law, when
appropriate, in order to assure California consumers that the quality
of medicine practiced in this state is the most advanced and
innovative it can be both in terms of preserving the health of, as
well as providing effective diagnosis and treatment of illness for,
the residents of this state.
   2501.  In fulfilling their responsibilities under this article,
the boards shall , on or before July 1, 2002, establish disciplinary
policies and procedures to reflect emerging and innovative medical
practices for licensed physicians and surgeons.  The boards shall
solicit the participation of interested parties in the development
and preparation of these policies and procedures and shall consult
technical advisors as necessary to fulfill the purposes of this
article.  In preparing these policies and procedures, the boards
shall consult with professional medical associations and review the
need for any changes in the boards' services, procedures, and
activities.  The boards shall also assess the need for:
   (a) Specific standards for informed consent, if any, in order for
patients to be able to understand the risks and benefits associated
with the range of treatment options available.
   (b) Standards for investigations to assure competent review in
cases involving the practice of any type of alternative medicine,
including, but not limited to, the skills and training of
investigators.
  SEC. 4.  The University of California is requested to review the
state of knowledge and emerging research regarding alternative and
complementary health, focusing on cancer treatments and therapies,
for the purposes of assisting the Governor and the Legislature in
preparing relevant information, analyses, and recommendations to
assure that California consumers diagnosed with cancer have the best
range of treatment and therapeutic choices.
